Hello, im new, have thigh questions

[LaFemmeFlora]

sometimes feel like my muscles, especially my leg muscles, literally swell after a hard/new workout. For instance, when I started doing some weight training this fall, I could swear that my thigh muscles were swollen after the first couple of workouts, almost like they were retaining water. I imagine there's a scientific explanation for it, e.g., increased bloodflow, but I don't know that for sure. In any event, they always return to normal after a few days.

This is my guess as well. In the healing process there is some swelling of the muscle that occurs a couple of days after strenuous muscle work. It generally last about 2-4 days. Drink plenty of water and take a multi-vitamin...and this will speed the healing process.

And no matter what keep up the good work.

[Luna]

So waht is the reason for the tight, tight feeling in the thighs when i get off the bike, sometimes my legs will shake too.
Im really enjoying this forum

[Kimmyt]

That tight feeling is good! It's one of my fav parts of cycling (and working out in general). Nothing beats the feeling of muscles after a long hard day of work. The tightness is just your muscles tell you they worked. It's what I call 'good pain'.

Very different from the bad pain that signifies injury, to me.

And on the topic of muscles... a girl can't have too many! (Well, okay, some of those extreme heavyweight bodybuilders do get a bit scary...) but I looove my muscles, even though they don't make me the slimmest girl out there. I like the fact that when I lift at the gym I can see the grunty-men peer at me in the mirror and check out my guns. I also like the fact that I don't have to ask the people at the grocery store to carry my heavy bags, and the fact that I and my 5'5" boyfriend can lift and carry a 52" tv up 2 floors without dying, and that I can shovel a whole big driveway in about 25 minutes without feeling like I've done any physical activity.

Muscles are the poop.